Hedge trimmer



W. T. MAXANT Feb.` 21, 1950 HEDGE TRIMMER 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed May 27, 1946 W. T. MAXANT HEDGE TRIMMER Feb. 21, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 27. 1946 MJ WNJ- INVENTOR.

Patented Feb. 21, 1950 ,UNIIED STTES IFFCE rnv-.2,498,564 v u v HEDGE TRIMMR William Tull/laxant," dyerlvklass.: n Applicadtn May 2v, 1946,!s7eria1 510.6732577 `f'ihisf invention relates to improvements in hedgejtrimmers, vof the character used for the trimming `of hedges, shrubs and otherplants, and

thelike.

.It is an improvement more particularly on the trimmer set forth ,in the lBeloin patent, No. 1,778,995, granted. October 2l, i930. The manufacture of the Belon trimmer as set forth in said patent, has revealed certain defects in construction anda danger in use whereby ithas notbeen entirely satisfactory.

The object of 'this invention is to improve the construction othedge trimmers rof this character both as to design andstructure, and also as lto safety characteristics to avoid danger of the .accidental cutting or the hand or fingers of an operator ,in handling or using the trimmer.

It has` been found vthat the structure of vthe trimmer can 'be improved materially both asto sturdiness and safety in themounting of the movable blade, the voperating means therefor,the locking of the blade in its retracted position, and the protecting offthe -blade in both of its extreme positions whereby danger of accidental cutting-of the -ngersis avoided. These and other improvements in the construction :provide a much improved structure over the prior known trimmer.

A preferred embodiment of this invention is shown in .the aecompanying drawings, in which:

Fig.- 1 isa top plan View of the trimmer;

I Fig.. 2 isan edge view thereof in elevation;` Y Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line 3 3 of Fig. l;

Fig. i is a similar View `on the line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. is a detail edge View of the guidejand slide at the opposite-edge ofiFig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the base and guide of the trimmer.

's claim. (o1. tov-420s) The embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings utilizes an elongated base plate genn erally indicated at I, preferably formed of steel and having a series of comb teeth 2 formed integral therewith along one edge of the plate. The teeth 2 should be suiiicient in number and properly spaced to accommodate the length of travel of the blade hereinafter described and to receive therebetween and hold the portions of hedge or other foliage to be trimmed.

Approximately midway of its length the base plate l is provided with a supporting handle 3 which extends laterally from the plate I and is permanently secured thereto.

Extending lengthwise of the plate I substantially throughout the` length vthereof is "a track 4 'held in elevated position `above, the plate I by a lbarb. y'One edge ofthe track l `is shown 'as flush vwith the bar .5, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and ll, whilethe bar 5 is of lesswidththan the trackf to .provide a guideway between the projecting ,edge of the track d and the adjacent edge of'ytheplate I. The parts 4 and 5 arejsec'ured permanently in rigid relationship to the plate `I as by rivets or other means of fasteninggas desired. I n I l yThe cutter [blade is shown at l, preferably sharpened at both oppositie edges thereof, as indicated at 8, These .edges tifare arranged asconverging in an outward direction tofaeilitate Vthe shearing of the foliage retained betweenthe comb teeth "2. The "teeth E are so disposed preferably that they will protect both opposite `edges of the blade "Ik-when the blade is in either extreme position oi'gmovernent', as` indicated respectively inl its full line and 'dotted/line vpositions; in Fig. '1. 'l The 'inner end of the `blade 'Iiextends r'into thefguideway 6 and is slidably mounted therein, as shown in Figa. p v The `blade l iscarried by a slide '9, yshownkas formed of a casting having a groove'l on the under side thereof to embrace the track li and ride thereon.V 'The slide "9 isfelongated transversely oi the-plate i and entendsV inoyerlapping relation'throughout the major portion of the length of the blade It is secured'to the'blade by bolts 'Il and I2 extending through slots I3 in the blade for adjustment of the latter.

The bolt II is elongated and is secured at its projectingend in an eye #le 'formed at one offset end -o'f-a rod 15. The rod i5 extendsy lengthwise over Athe'tra'elr"and vits offset end is received'in ayoke 'i6 Ythat upstandsirom one edge of "the slide casting S to form a secure connection between the casting and the rod whereby these arer substantially rigid with respect to each other.

The opposite end of the rod I5 extends through a guide bracket I'I beneath a roller I8 journaled in` said bracket and has a handle i9 secured on the extreme end thereof. A coiled spring 20 is sleeved over the end portion of the rod I5 externally of the bracket Il to cushion the movement of the rod in its forward direction toward the position shown in full lines in the drawings. A similar coiled spring 2| is Sleeved over the rod I5 and is retained in place thereon by a cottery pin 22 (Fig. 5). One end oi the coiled spring 2| bears against the yoke i6 while the opposite end is free and in position to engage the bracket I'I upon the outward movement of the blade by the handle I9 to cushion the stopping action in said outward direction. c

The blade 1 is adapted to be reciprocated between the positions shown in full lines and in dotted lines in Fig. 1. It will be evident that the blade is protected by spaced comb teeth 2 at both of its opposite edges in each of said positions whereby the edges of the blade are so protected that accidental injury to the hands or fingers of the user is avoided either in handling or in using the trimmer. Moreover when the trimmer is not in use the blade l is preferably retained in its retracted position by a set-screw 23 threaded through the slide 9 and with a pointed end in position to engage a recess 24 in the upper face of the track ll, as shown in Fig-6. A coiled spring 25 is sleeved around the set-screw 23, as shown in Fig. 4, to facilitate the unscrewing thereof when it is desired to release the slide' for reciprocating movement.

The operation of the trimmer will be evident from the foregoing description. With the setscrew 23 released, the operator holds the trimmer in one hand by the handle 3 while he manipulates the blade l with the opposite hand engaging the handle i9. Upon presenting the comb teeth 2 to the foliage or other plant to be trimmed the operator may readily reciprocate the blade 'l between the extreme positions shown, thus shearing off the foliage by the cutting edges of the blade as the foliage is held between the teeth.

The construction is much improved by the sturdy and rigid mounting of the blade for recprocating movement and also by the protection of the blade against accidental injury in both extreme positions andalso when it is retained in its secured retracted position when the trimmer is not in use. 1

While the invention is illustrated in one embodiment, it is appreciated that variations and changes may be made in the construction Without departing from the invention, except as specified in the claims.

I claim:

l. A trimmer of the character described comprising an elongated base plate having laterally projecting teeth thereon and spaced apart lengthwise of the plate, a track extending lengthwise of the plate, a cutter blade having opposite cutting edges said cutter blade having a configuration and size approximately equal to the outer extremities of a pair of said teeth on the base plate, means connected with the blade for guiding the blade along the track in reciprocating movements, and means for stopping vthe movements of the blade adjacent opposite ends of the track with the cutting edges of the blade in overlapping relation and in a protected position with of a pair of said teeth on the base plate, means connected with the blade for guiding the blade along the track in reciprocating movements, means for reciprocating the blade lengthwise of the track between extreme positions at opposite end portions of the track, and means for stopping the movement of the blade in its extreme positions at opposite ends of the track with the opposite cutting edges of the blade in overlapping and protected positions relative to a pair of spaced teet at each opposite end of the track. 3. A trimmer of the character described comprising an elongated base plate having laterally projecting teeth thereon and spaced apart lengthwise of the plate, a track extending lengthwise of the plate, a cutter blade having opposite cutting edges said cutter blade having a conguration and size approximately equal to the outer extremities of a pair of` said teeth on the base plate, means connected with the blade for guiding the blade along the track in reciprocating movements, means for reciprocating the blade lengthwise of the track between extreme positions at opposite end portions ofl the track, means for stopping the movement of the blade in its extreme positions at opposite ends of the track with the opposite cutting edges of the blade in overlapping and protecting positions relative to a pair of spaced teeth at each opposite end of the track, and means for locking the blade against reciprocating movement relative vto the track in one extreme position thereof.

WILLIAM 'I'. MAXANT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of this patent:

UNITED S'IATESy PATENTS Number Name Date 1,124,824 Walter Jan. 12, 1915 1,397,923 Crosby Nov. 22, 1921 1,778,995 Beloin Oct. 21, 1930 1,842,724 Langsner Jan. 26, 1932 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 347,746 France Jan. 16, 1905 

